Over the years, I’ve owned three Ratzlaff crank-up trailers. From what I can tell, there may only be a dozen or so in existence today. I currently have one for sale, and although I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy them firsthand, I still know very little about their history.
The story I’ve heard is that they were built in a small shop—or maybe even a garage—in the Bay Area in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to confirm that. Recently, I was contacted by James Ratzlaff, who shared some wonderful black-and-white photos and helped add another layer to the puzzle. (A video of our trailer.)
James explained that his father, John Ratzlaff, built travel trailers in Goessel, Kansas, in a converted repair shop. John called his trailers “travel trailers,” not campers, and one of his models was nicknamed Kaw. James shared a photo of one of those trailers, which clearly shows a traditional-style build rather than a pop-up.
Even more intriguing, James told me that John had a brother, Orick, who moved to Southern California after WWII. While the family doesn’t recall Orick being involved in trailers, it’s possible that John and Orick might have worked together at some point—John in Kansas and Orick in California. If so, that could explain why some of the Ratzlaff crank-up trailers seem to have roots in California.
I also heard from (Mr.) Kelly Ratzlaff, John’s grandson. Kelly shared that his grandfather was the youngest of five brothers from Goessel. According to Kelly’s dad (born in 1953), John only built traditional travel trailers, not crank-up campers. But as Kelly pointed out, his dad may have been too young to remember if John’s work evolved at some point. Kelly also mentioned that John later founded Ratzlaff Draperies, a company that manufactured interiors for the marine industry—and possibly for campers as well.
Sadly, all of John’s brothers have since passed, with the last of them gone in 2014, so much of this history is left to memory and guesswork. Kelly has shared my video and contact information with John’s son, who may be able to fill in more details.
For now, the Ratzlaff crank-up trailers remain a bit of a mystery. Were they built in Kansas, California, or both? Were they an experiment that never fully took off?
I’d love to know more. If you have photos, stories, or any information about Ratzlaff trailers—whether crank-ups or traditional travel trailers—please get in touch. Every clue helps piece together the history of this rare and fascinating chapter of vintage trailering.
Below is a collection of photos of a few different Ratzlaffs. Here is a Facebook page with more info.
